Missouri State Preparing For $5.5 M Cut in 2011

"A Bottom Line We Can't Ignore"

Missouri State University President Michael Nietzel is asking faculty and staff to consider early retirements and voluntary furloughs in anticipation of a $5.5 million dollar budget cut next year.

Nietzel held a townhall meeting on campus Wednesday to discuss cost-cutting measures with employees and students. With federal stimulus dollars running out and state general revenue on a double-digit decline, Nietzel said the university must prepare for "a bottom line we can't ignore."

*WATCH HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE BLEAK BUDGET PICTURE ABOVE*

Nietzel said he'd like to have some decisions made by January. Nietzel said cutting $5.5 million dollars now is necessary to head off steeper cuts in 2012.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

Nodler: Stimulus Likely Necessary to Fund Career Ladders

State Senate Appropriations Chair Gary Nodler said that Governor Nixon will likely need to use federal stimulus money next year in order to fund an education program that pays teachers for extracurricular duties.

He also criticized the way state lawmakers have funded the Career Ladders program for the last two decades and took shots at the Democratic House Minority leader for not understanding the appropriation process.

*WATCH CLIPS ABOVE*

Nodler's main points from his Springfield presser:

• A call to end the retroactive payment process that funds Career Ladders AFTER the fiscal year appropriation process is compete: "This is a broken part of the state appropriations process," Nodler said.
• Teachers should know by January -- after the consenus general revenue estimate is revealed -- if this year's program will be funded.
• Governor Nixon should consider tapping federal stimulus dollars to pay for this year's program through a supplemental budget appropriation.
• His argument that fully funding this year's program is LESS critical than fixing the overall funding mechanism.

BELOW: SO IS NODLER NOW PRO-STIMULUS?

"We could make lemonade out of a lemon"

AND: LAMBASTING LEVOTA

"I would've been happy to explain the budget process to Representative LeVota if he had actually had an appetite to learn something about it."

GOVERNOR NIXON'S OFFICE STATEMENT:
"Gov. Nixon supports career ladder, which is why he funded it last year, and will put money in his budget for it next year," said Nixon spokesman Jack Cardetti.

LEVOTA FIRES BACK -- TAGS NODLER AS FLIP-FLOPPER:

"House Democrats are pleased Senator Gary Nodler no longer wants to impose pay cuts on Missouri teachers. In fact, Senator Nodler’s reversal is all the more stunning due to his switch from wanting no funding at all for the Career Ladder teacher pay program to wanting to double fund it in the current state budget," said Rep. Paul LeVota in a statement. "Senator Nodler’s attempt at political damage control notwithstanding, House Democrats remain committed to the fiscally responsible policy of funding Career Ladder every year -- but only once a year."

FULL STORY Tonight on Ky3 News @ 10

Pipkin Students, Staff Give Positive Reviews to Obama Speech

President Barack Obama's highly-anticipated speech to students received mostly positive reviews at one Springfield middle school.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ NOON REPORT ABOVE

Controversy erupted in the days leading up to the speech but, under the bright spotlight of pundits and parents, the president made certain the speech did not get political. At Pipkin Middle School, more than 250 seventh and eighth graders watched during their lunch hour. And, according to administrators, just three students chose to opt out.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 5 REPORT HERE

Go HERE to read the entire text of the President's speech.

Many Ozarks Schools Won't Show Obama Speech

PLUS: KINDER PILES ON

Parents across the country continue to call their local schools, complaining about President Obama's speech to students Tuesday.

But here in the Ozarks, it's likely that most students won't even see it.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

"Our administrators will look at it. At that point and time, we'll see where it fits into our curriculum," said Fair Grove superintendent John Link.

"We made the decision not to offer the president's speech to the school children during school time," said Nixa superintendent Stephen Kleinsmith.

WATCH WHY SOME PARENTS ARE PLANNING A BOYCOTT HERE

KINDER SAYS SPEECH INFRINGES ON RIGHTS:

"It may be the first time that the White House has distributed curricula directly to the teachers to accompany the president's speech," said Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder in a statement Thursday. "While I have the utmost respect for the office of the president, and for this president, this public relations tactic has gone too far. The distribution of teaching curricula from the White House to the classroom clearly usurps the authority of our local school boards and school administrators."

"We have seen the federal government intervene into our lives in ways that many of us thought we would never see. This is a clear infringement on the rights of our students and those of Missouri parents," he said.

"I believe that if parents choose to keep their children at home during this presentation, they should be able to do so without any consequences being imposed upon their children. And if local school districts across Missouri choose not to make this speech mandatory for students, they should not face any penalties for the state or federal government. Parents who are concerned by the president’s school programming should contact their local school administrators to make their voices heard. It is important to vindicate parental rights, as parents are primarily responsible for their children's education," Kinder said.

Norm Ridder Makes Nightly

Here's the NBC Nightly News piece on the controversy over President Obama's school speech Tuesday.

NBC lifted a soundbite from Springfield superintendent Dr. Norm Ridder from our Ky3 News @ 10 piece Wednesday night.

*WATCH IT ABOVE*

(It's quick -- and towards the end of the piece)

Parents Questioning Schools About Obama Speech

"I just think it's really kind of crazy"

The Springfield school district has been fielding a growing numbers of calls about President Obama's "citizenship" speech to students Tuesday, with some parents demanding their children watch it and others planning a boycott to protest the address.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

"I think the idea his message has to be listened to is socialistic," said Kickapoo High School parent Rebecca Casado.

But Springfield superintendent Norm Ridder says it will be up to each school and teacher whether they show the president's speech.

"If they don't want their child to see it, that's fine, they can ask their child not to see it and the child is pulled," explained Dr. Ridder.

Asked about the controversy, Ridder replied, "I think it's really kind of crazy."

A FACEBOOK PAGE has been set up to "Give Your Kid A Sick Day" on September 8th, with several Springfield residents signed up to take part.

DEVELOPING . . .

For Ky3 News @ 10

VIDEO: The Obama School Speech Debate

Springfield parent Rebekah Casado fears President Obama's school speech "is a socialistic idea of getting to kids when they're young," but superintendent Norm Ridder points out that the speech is strictly about citizenship and how students can succeed in their academic efforts.

*WATCH THE NOTEBOOK MISHMASH ABOVE*

"I'm almost in fear that it's an indoctrination thing. We saw this kind of stuff in other countries," said Casado, who still is contemplating whether to keep her middle school daughter out of school Tuesday.

"We really don't encourage it in anyway. It's up to the teacher and curriculum. If they don't want their child to see it, that's fine. They can ask their children not to see it and the child is pulled," said Dr. Ridder, emphasizing that the speech is not mandatory for any student and parents can opt-out.

Casado's son, Alec, says he wants to hear the President speak -- no matter what the topic is on.

***

PLUS: THE MATERIALS

ABC's Jake Tapper has linked to the Department of Education materials in question in this Twitter post. Tapper also reports that the White House revised original language in certain sections.

As one of the preparatory materials for teachers provided by the Department of Education, students had been asked to, "Write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president. “

Today, after Republicans accused the White House of trying to indoctrinate school children with liberal propaganda the White House and the Department of Education changed the section to now read, "Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short‐term and long‐term education goals.”

"We changed it to clarify the language so the intent is clear," said White House Spokesman Tommy Vietor.

MORE HERE
***

AND: FLASHBACK

1991: DEMS BLAST BUSH 41 SCHOOL SPEECH

From the Washington Post, published Friday, October 4, 1991: Democrats assailed the Bush Administration today for spending $26,750 in taxpayer money to hire a production company that oversaw President Bush's telecast from an eighth-grade classroom here to schoolchildren around the country on Tuesday. The money came from the Education Department's salary and expense budget. As a result, Representative William D. Ford, the Michigan Democrat who heads the House Education and Labor Committee, demanded that Education Secretary Lamar Alexander appear before the committee to defend his "spending scarce education dollars to produce a media event." And the House majority leader, Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, said, "The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the President." The President's spokesman, Marlin Fitzwater, responded by denying that Mr. Bush's talk to the schoolchildren had been a political event and calling the criticism "nonsense."

Supreme Court Upholds School Funding Formula

Missouri's school-funding formula was upheld Tuesday by the state Supreme Court against a long-running challenge that claimed schools have been shortchanged and treated unfairly.

The schools that sued claimed the state fails to spend enough money on schools and distributes that money inequitably, at least partly because of a flawed local property-tax system.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC REACTION:

Minority Leader Paul LeVota:

"The Missouri Supreme Court today ruled that the state’s method of funding local public schools meets the minimum constitutional requirements. The court, however, did not rule that the state is doing all it can to improve the quality of public education. Although the bare minimum may be sufficient to comply with the state constitution, Missouri children deserve an educational system that provides much more than the bare minimum. In 2005, the Republican-controlled General Assembly and then-Republican governor replaced an outdated, inadequate and unfair public school funding formula with a new system that is just as inadequate and perhaps even more unfair. That formula is now four years old, but is still only halfway through its long phase-in period. By the time the system if fully implemented for the 2012-2013 school year, another generation of Missouri children will have been shortchanged. It is past time for lawmakers to do the job the Republican majority failed to do in 2005 and establish a fair and adequate funding system that makes public education more of a priority within the existing state budget to improve our schools without a tax increase."

Nixon Vetoes 18 Bills

WITH THE STRIKE OF A PEN

Governor Jay Nixon vetoed 18 pieces of legislation Monday, rejecting the repeal of a bingo tax, a payment exemption for renters in drastic circumstances and proposed changes to the public defender system.

Nixon also vetoed legislation that would have given lawmakers keys to the Capitol dome. House Bill 544 also included provisions to track federal stimulus money. In his veto letter, Nixon said that wasn't the reason he rejected the bill. He said the Missouri Accountability Portal was already codified by a different substitute. Nixon said he was not comfortable with approving keys to the Capitol because the provision could cause "potential harm to legislators, their constituents and our historic capitol building."

But Rep. Jason Smith, a sponsor of the legislation, wrote on his FACEBOOK page: "GOVERNOR NIXON VETOED my HB 544 today.....I guess he is not a strong advocate in allowing Missouri Citizens to watch how their tax dollars are being spent...the house passed this bill 143 to 10 and the senate passed it 33-0.....Come on NIXON!!!."

Nixon also vetoed potential changes to the public defender system, which would have allowed the state to hit up private attorneys to handle an overburdened caseload. "It is clear to me that that the problem is one of resources, not only for the Public Defender System, but all participants in the criminal justice system," Nixon wrote in his veto letter.

The bill was championed by Sen. Jack Goodman, and The News-Leader's Chad Livengood reports that Greene County prosecutor Darrell Moore lobbied for the veto. Moore and Goodman are Republican rivals in the 7th District race for Congress.

Read Nixon's last-day signatures and vetoes HERE.

***

ALSO: The Governor signed a large education bill that gives schools the option of a 4-day week, requires elementary students have at least 30 minutes of physical activity, creates a mentoring program for students and forces each public school to develop teaching standards by June 2010.

Nixon Commits to "Common" Education Standards

Gov. Jay Nixon signed an agreement Friday that commits the state of Missouri to participating in the development of a common core of state standards in education.

The agreement is the first step for Missouri to agree to adopt core standards for states in English and Math for elementary and secondary students.

"Missouri has been a leader in developing high standards and assessments, and will continue in this role," Gov. Nixon wrote in a letter with the agreement, which was sent to the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices.

Because of an ongoing search for a new Commissioner of Education, Nixon said the state was initially going to wait to sign on. "I believe, however, that the development of Common Core Standards is important to warrant taking this initial step and signing on in my capacity as Governor," Nixon said.

The Common Core Standards Initiative is being jointly led by the NGA Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

The goal is to have a common core of state standards that states can voluntarily adopt. States may choose to include additional standards beyond the common core as long as the common core represents at least 85 percent of the state’s standards in English language arts and mathematics.

Conservative Challenger Seeks Slot on School Board

4 CANDIDATES

3 SLOTS

1 CHALLENGER

THE NEW GUY

Eric Jensen is the lone challenger facing three incumbents in Springfield's School Board election next Tuesday. The trial attorney and self-described conservative boosted merit pay, busted unions and predicted the eventual downfall of No Child Left Behind at a League of Women Voters Forum Tuesday night.

But he faces Andy Hosmer, School Board president Kris Callen and 15-year board veteran Bruce Renner in a top 3 out of 4 campaign.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

"I don't have a lot of history with the district. Some see that as a weakness. I see it as a strength," said Jensen, noting he doesn't have the baggage that's tied to certain education interests and constituencies.

During the hour-long forum at Weaver School, Jensen mentioned merit pay twice, warned that union leaders don't always have the best interest of the children in mind, and pledged to go line-by-line through the budget to find savings.

READ A HISTORY OF MY TWITTER UPDATES FROM THE FORUM HERE

House Takes Step Toward 4-Day Week Option

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri House gives first-round approval to a bill that would give school districts the option of holding classes four days a week.

Districts choosing a four-day week could lengthen their school days by an hour and have 32 fewer days of instruction each year. The total number of annual instruction hours would stay the same.

The bill needs another House vote before moving to the Senate. Supporters say some rural school districts are interested in the idea because it would save money on transportation and utilities.

But critics raise concerns about a potential drop in educational quality and an increase in day care costs for some parents.

Schoeller: "Too Many Questions" About Stimulus

Willard Rep. Shane Schoeller tells The Notebook there's too many unanswered questions on the economic stimulus package to completely commit to tapping Missouri's share of the pot.

When asked whether Republicans would seriously consider rejecting Missouri's stimulus money, Schoeller replied: "I'm not going to comment at this point. There are too many questions."
***
Says he wants to look at every item to see "what red tape is there." "I think for Republicans in the House, we'd like to use it for one-time projects, like construction, to build roads. Not ongoing expenditures. That's where the discussions will get really intense."

ON A LIGHTER NOTE, speaking about Rep. Maynard Wallace's "spanking bill" that passed a first round House vote Monday night, Schoeller acknowledged being spanked in junior high.

Wallace's bill would give more protection to teachers and administrators when they discipline their students. Some districts use spanking as a form of punishment.

"I got my fair share of spanking when I was in school," Schoeller joked. He explained that while in junior high in Branson, he was sent to the principal's office for smacking a fellow student's hand because that student was trying to cheat off of him during a test in math class.

"I still didn't think it was fair, but I got it, and it hurt," Schoeller recalled of the spanking.

House To Take Up Spanking Bill

Protecting teachers who use spanking to discipline their students is a major provision in the first education bill the House will take up Tuesday.

***

Rep. Maynard Wallace is the sponsor of HB 96.

It passed out of committee 13-0.

***

Supporters say that these measures will make it possible for school employees to focus on teaching without worrying about litigation. But Rep. Sara Lampe said there may be a move to add an amendment to not allow spanking or any type of corporal punishment.

That could spark a battle over "local control."

The bill "expands the reporting of acts of violence to all teachers."

And Also: "expands employee imunity from correctly following discipline policies, to following all policies."

In October 2007, the Texas County prosecutor said he could not charge a teacher for bruising an 11-year-old because current state law says spanking is not abuse.

Mo. Education Commissioner Dies of Brain Cancer

Missouri Commissioner of Education Kent King died at his home in Rolla on Wednesday of brain cancer.

King spent 44 years in education, including 10 years as Superintendent in Licking and in Rolla. He headed the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education since 2000.

GOVERNOR-ELECT JAY NIXON REACTS:
"Because Georganne’s father, Hubert Wheeler, was the state’s first Education Commissioner, we have always felt a special kinship to public education in Missouri and to those who work so hard for its continued advancement. That certainly included Kent King, who played a great role as a leader of public education in our state. Missouri’s education community will miss Dr. King greatly. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."


GOVERNOR MATT BLUNT REACTS:
"Melanie and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Commissioner Kent King. Dr. King was a dedicated public servant who committed his life and career to education, and always put the needs of students first. He was a valued member of my Cabinet who shared my belief that education should be the highest priority of state government. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. King’s family especially his wife Sandy, and his children and grandchildren.”


LT. GOV. PETER KINDER REACTS:
"Dr. King was only the fourth person to serve as commissioner of education since the office was created in 1945. His unwavering commitment to the people of Missouri and his desire for academic achievement was evident to all who met him. Today, I express my sincere condolences to Kent’s wife, Sandy, and his entire family. Missouri’s schoolchildren will forever benefit from the impact that Dr. King has left."

King's funeral is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. in Rolla.

Lawmakers Consider Shuffling Casino Money

WATCH THE KY3 News @ 10 REPORT HERE

The voter-approved law to put money from casinos into the state's school funding formula is irking some lawmakers because some districts won't benefit.

Now, two months after voters approved the casino ballot initiative, lawmakers are suggesting that the money be diverted to raise teacher salaries, boost special education and gifted programs and even help cash-strapped universities.

Nixa State Representative Jay Wasson (who gets extra brownie points for being a politico available on the New Year's Day holiday): "If there were some flexibility there, this is going to be a very tough budget crunch year." BUT . . . "If it's written that way as I suspect it is, that's where it'll have to go. I don't think we'll have any choice on that."

REPORTS A.P. MAESTRO LIEB:

"Lawmakers can ignore the spending directives approved by voters and appropriate money as they choose, or they can change the law itself with a majority vote in the House and Senate and the governor's signature." "The language addressing the formula was, for lack of a better description, not ideally written," said incoming Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, who was a supporter of the ballot measure. "There probably are going to have to be some changes."

The new legislative session begins next Wednesday.

Shortfall Fallout

REACTION TO A PROJECTED $342 MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

"We prepared for what we knew would be a downturn economy."

#139th District Rep. Shane Schoeller (R) says a budget shortfall will present tough decisions, but notes that other states are in much worse shape. He thinks Gov.-elect Jay Nixon will definitely have to scale back his campaign promises, but cautions that projections are often wrong. Schoeller says that historically the budget does better during the first half of the year, and seems hopeful that a slow recovery could lift revenues higher than expected by June.

"The first thing I think they will try to cut is higher ed, that's where they always go."

#135th District Rep. Charlie Denison (R) says higher education will be the first area likely to see a funding cut. Denison also seemed to support Nixon's call to evaluate state tax credits given to businesses. "I think at this particular time, it's something we have to take a look at," he said. When asked if he thought the Medicaid cuts would be restored this session, he replied, "Not this time, not this year. "It's going to be a very tough year, no doubt about it," Denison said.

***

"They'll lose faculty because they won't be able to hire."

Reached by phone, #138th District Rep. Sara Lampe (D) says that she hopes no decisions about the budget will be made too quickly. "I hope we're deliberate, purposeful and won't make any quick decisions. We will have to make cuts, it will be painful. The scary part about that is the cost of higher education remains, whether the state money comes in or not," Lampe said. "They'll lose faculty because they won't be able to hire," she added, referring to the impact the cuts will have on public universities. "They'll have to cut core programs, core experiences for students." Lampe also said that when lawmakers reconvene, they should look at programs that "for years have looked ok, when we've had the money." Her primary target: Tax Credits. "We need to ask, are they necessary? Are they bringing jobs in or are they part of the problem?"

"Give Congress time to act on a stimulus measure."

Amy Blouin, of the nonprofit Missouri Budget Project wants Nixon to hold off on any proposed cuts until Congress considers a federal stimulus package for the states in January. She said some estimates show Missouri could get $250 million dollars from that type of a package. She also acknowledged it will be "more difficult" for Nixon to fulfill his campaign pledge to restore all of the 2005 Medicaid cuts, but added that healthcare coverage is needed now more than ever. Blouin said that during a recession period, unemployment rises, and therefore more people depend on public assistance for their healthcare needs. She also noted that without drastic changes, Missouri could face a $900 million dollar shortfall for fiscal year 2010.

Budget Woes Lead The 6

News of a potential $340 Million dollar budget shortfall lead KY3 News @ 6 Tuesday night.

You can watch my report HERE.

Preparing For The Ax

MSU PUTS CONTINGENCY PLAN IN PLACE IN CASE OF HIGHER ED CUTS

University President Michael Nietzel outlines emergency plan in afternoon media availability

"At this point there are no cuts, we're simply asking the administration to develop plans that if they're were cuts, how would we respond."

***

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 5 REPORT HERE

53 percent of the school's $153 million dollar operating budget comes from state appropriations

Nietzel says he has had no conversations yet with Gov.-elect Jay Nixon about what to expect in the state budget, which is expected to be presented in late January.

***WATCH MORE CLIPS FROM NIETZEL BELOW***

Retirement Benefits of Missouri School Employees Threatened

(AP) -- A new decision from the Social Security Administration could jeopardize retirement benefits for thousands of Missouri public school employees.

The federal agency informed school districts last month than too many of their employees have been exempt from paying Social Security taxes. Those workers are covered by the Missouri Public School Retirement System, considered more generous than Social Security.

Read the entire story HERE.

Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., sent a letter this week to Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue seeking an explanation for the change and warning that it will cause "a dire hardship" on Missouri school districts.

"It appears that the new interpretation of this section will negatively impact the retirement benefits of thousands of education employees in Missouri and impact the school districts' ability to attract quality employees," Bond said in the letter.